The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-11-17
DRINKS FOR A WHOLE YEAR.
An Astonishing eckoning Between
Mr. Ball and the Barkeeper.
From the New York Sun.


converse with tall. thin man, and was APP
uarently trying to find out how many fig
ures he could make with lead pencil on
small business card. He heard the report
oris order however and called out Double
dose of No. 6, Nike I'll put the fringe ON
Then he smiled and said, Good evening,
Mr.. Blank. I'll be with you in moment,
sir. I'm engaged III an arithmetical con-
troversy at present"
Mike and bis two fellow bartenders looked
at one another and winked, but they per-
formed the operation SO deftly that it failed
IN attract the attention of the head bar
keeper When Mike had transferred a
double dose of No. from cheerful-loolzing
bottle to goblet, and had added a certain
quantity of milk and other ingredients the
head barkeep dropped his pencil aud APP
proaohed that part of the bar in front of
which the reporter stood. Reaching his
hand across the mahogany, the head bar
keep murmured: II hope you are well this
evening. Mr.. Blank" 1t was one Of his
peculiarities to get hold of the name of
all his customers, and to fire them off with
grace.
mot exactly first chop, William" re-
sponded the reporter.
A carefully constructed combination of
sympathy spread itself over Williams
Vsage
Change in the weather, sir" he sug-
Maybe" said the reporter; "but I'm
under the impression it's whisky"
''Ah,n responded William, solicitously.
at certainly couldn't have been No. 6,
sir"
No" was the reply, 81 have an idea it
William smiled genially. He was sure
his customer was joking. Twenty-Five de-
coctions, he felt certain, could never place
'any gentleman of experience" hors dc COM
bat Moderation, he opines, extended from
twenty 'inspirers" in day. ''Now, last
Sunday" said William, 81 took a day of.
In fact" he added, with some slight appear
snce of haste, II take every Sunday off, of
course, for in this establishment we make
point of observing the law. But last Sun
day was with number of friends, and be-
tween and 3 o'clock took forty drinks.
Have you entirely recoveredT' inquired
the reporter. The other barkeeps suddenly
turned their backs on William, and became
immensely industrious at nothing IN partic-
ular, except the effort to snort unobtrus We
w. William showed no signs that he per-
celved joke in the vicinity. He simply
stated that his general health never was
better. But as he talked he wasn't idle. In
his right hand he held a goblet. 1t was filed
to within quarter of an inch of the brim
with No. 6, milk, and other dangerous in
extended his right arm until his hand was a
foot above his head. In his left hand was an
empty goblet, and as the right approached
the ceiling his left hand sought the floor
until it was on level with his knees. When
the two hands were about six feet apart the
mouths of the gobiets were carefully pointed
towards a common centre.
Suddenly the contents of the right-hand
goblet shot from their prison and described
a crescent The liquid darted through
space, and in a second reposed in the goblet
that careSsed Williams knees. Not drop
had been spilled ON the passage The posi-
ton of the gobletS was reversed, and six
times did William perform feat that was
the admiration of all beholders. Then,
with a courtly movement, the milk punch
was deposited in a fresh goblet and was
ready for burial.
The fringe upon it was an inch thick.
1t was not so deep as the smile that over
spread Williams countenance as he gazed
upon his handiwork. OF the latter he was
truly proud 1t showed that he was great
artist: that there was ground for the claim
that he was a lineal descendant of one of
the old masters. Having packed the milk
punch away the reporter was about to de
part, when William requested the liberty of
giving him an introduction to the tall, thin
man, who, in the meantime, had been figur-
ing awav ipdustriously with pencil and
paper. The tall, thin mans name was
Bail.
There's difference of twenty drinks be-
tween him and me-" said William, land I'd
like you to act as referee, because you're
handy at figures to say nothing of your
ability as a judge of whisky. Is it go,
Mr.. Ball"
Its 60" said Mr.. Ball.
evil state the case" inquired William.
"You state the case,n replied Mr. Ball,
kryb< 70 = N of
There's difference of twenty drinks be-
tween us" began William. 'Mr. Ball pays
for his drinks by the year"
pays for his drinks by the yearP' inter
rupted the reporter. .....
YES" said William, she pays for his
drinks by the year, and he says he got
twenty more drinks than my calculation
provides for"
"Well, your books show just how mary
drinks he got, don't they" suggested the
reporter.
''Oh, no,n replied William. "His account
doesn't show on the books"
II got 800 drinks" Mr.. Ball declared,
and William saws l only got 1885,
And 1880 are all You got" broke in
William
"Just explain this thing" said the re-
norter testify. "How the deuce can man
tell which OF your calculations is correct, if
there's no evidence to go onp
But there is evidence" said both dis
putants hastily. After good humored dis
pute as to which of them should make
further explanation of the puzzle, it was
agreed that w liam should tell of the agree
ment between him and Mr.. Ball, subject to
correction
Mr.. Ball agreed to pay for twenty drinks
day for a year." began William. He
was to drink whisky, and for each drink he
was to pay TIC. We had discussed the
matter, and after a close calculation | offer
ed to put aside for his sole use three barrels
of whisky. There are forty gallons in a
barrel, and in each gallon there are sixty
drinks and fraction of particular kind. y
''What do you mean by particular
kindP' inquired the reporter.
1--WE known Mr.. Ball for a good while, "
replied William, land know his ways. He
pays for all he gets. So it's nothing against
him if he governs himself by certain rules.
When he takes drink OF whisky there is no
room for flies on the brim. Now, there are
just sixty and fraction of that particular
Kind of drinks in gallon, and as there are
forty gallons in q barrel. there must be over
2,400 drinks in barrel. Mr.. Balls year is
up tonight. He has drunk three barrels OF
whisky. He drank twenty drinks day.
He must have drank 140 drinks week.
There are fifty-two weeks in a year. Multi
ply 140 by 50 and you have 1850. say